Improvement in carpet-sweepers



J. H'INKLEYB CARPET ,SWEEPER.

No.179,453. Patented. July 4,1876.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. wnsummcu. n C.

UNITED STATES JONAS HINKLEY, OF NORWALK,OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT m CARPET-SWEEPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,45 3, dated July 4,1876; application fi ed January 25, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAS HINKLEY, of Norwalk, county of Huron, State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCarpet-Sweepers; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully describedin the following specification and represented in the annexed drawings,in which Figure l is an isometr-ical perspective view,

' showing the machine ready for use. Fig. 2

brush holder or pan, showing its bearings, circular portion, andframework. Fig.6 is a perspective view from above, when the cover isremoved and the brush and its holder or pan is taken out.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawings, and both ends of the machine are substantiallyalike.

My invention relates to that class of carpet sweepers that use arevolving brush which derives its rotation fromwheels in contact withthe carpet or floor; and consists of a novel construction andarrangement of its parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth andclaimed", by which a more simple, cheaper, and more effective device ofthis character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of my machine or invention will be readilyobvious to all conversant with such matters from the followingdescription In the drawings, A represents the box or body of themachine; B, the cover, hinged at H, and held firmly in place, when shut,by the thumb-piece D, which has a curved section, D, riveted to theinner end of its stem, as shown in Fig.4, which will swing, so that oneend of it will press against the under side of the box adjoining to it,and hold that and the hinged joint firmly closed to prevent the dustfrom escaping and the cover from rattling. CV

be all on the wheels E, to cause them to revolve with sufficient powerto revolve the brush, which is connected to the wheel F, as hereinaftershown. The wheels E, with their shafts E, extend to near the center ofthe box, as seen in Fig. 3, through the holes 0, Fig. 2, and rib Z,Figs. 3 and 4', which form their bearings. Between the inner ends of theshafts E there is inserted a spiral spring, X, which serves to press theshafts E apart or outward, so forcing the Wheels E in contact with thewheels F, thereby producing enough friction by the contact to revolvethem at all times when they revolve. The wheels F have their inner edgesturned off at an angle where they come in contact with the.wheels E, soas to only rest on the edges of them, which causes them to revolve moreeasily; and as the center of each wheel F is above a center line fromthe wheels E E, Fig. 1, it will have a tendency to work up, and therebylift on the brush holder or pan, and cause it to move more lightly overthe carpet,also to throw some of its weight upon the wheels E, as willbe understood by the description farther on. The wheels F have shafts F,which extend into the'shaft of the brush R, and are held firmly in placeby the wood-screw Y being screwed into the brush-shaft R, entering aholein the shaft F, and causing the friction-gear and brush to revolvetogether. The brush R, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is made in the usualmanner, although but a few of the bristles are represented. Fastened toeach end of it by nails or glue are the rough leather washers V, whichrun against the heads J of the brushpan, and serve to effectuallyexclude the threads, hairs, &c,, from winding around its journals andclogging the machine. There is an opening at L, Fig. 5, which allows thefine dust, if any should get in, to work out over the screw H. The brushholder or pan Gr (partly shown in the first four figures,) is best shownin Fig. 5. It is made by forming the heads J with an elongated opening,J, and

by cutting the lower corners to the proper angle necessary to raise theouter edges of the bottom pieces Q, so as to insure their passing overany litter on the carpet or floor, so that the brush can reach it. Thebottom pieces Q turn up on each end, and are riveted at P'to the endpiece J, and far enough apart to allow the brush to reach the carpet orfloor, as shown at T. The side pieces S may be soldered in or riveted tothe head J and bottom pieces Q. T is a circular piece of tin solderedin. holding the hub I, and has a slot (partly shown) in the lower end,toallow it to be moved up or down by means of the screw H. The inner endof the hub I, projecting in even with the face of the head J, is held inposition, and also slides up or down, as required, in the elongatedholes J. The huh I is bored out large enough to receive a leather box,L, which is used to prevent a rattling noise, which the peculiarconstruction of the machine would cause the shaft F to make it the boxwere hard metal. When the dust pan or brush is in its place in themachine it is held suspended by the leather straps K, (best seen in Fig.2,) one end of which is fastened to the box, as shown then passes downaround the hub I, and up to the screw M, which serves to raiseor lowerthe brush-pan. The dotted lines show the positions of the head J insidethe recess, which is best shown in Fig. 6, the flat surface restingagainst the surface B, cut into the end piece of the box A, and theedges resting in the angles C, which serve to keep it in an uprightposition. The sides S of the pan rest against the leather facing U,which is glued to the inner side of the rib Z, which serves to keep thejoint tight, and let the side S rest against it, and work up and downwithout noise. W is the receptacle for the dust and dirt thrown over therib Z by the action of the brush.

It will be evident by looking at Fig. 2 that the brush-pan is insertedfrom the under side and rests in the stirrup K, and can work up or downin prescribed limits--that is, from resting in the stirrup K, as shown,which is near its lowest limits, up until the edges of the bottom piecesQ come in contact with the under side of the rib Z, and the top of thehead J comes in contact with the cover.

In adjusting the machine for use, set the brush so it will be down evenwith the under side of the pan 5 then adjust the pan so it will I is apiece of metal connected to and not quite touch or rub on a bare floor.Thenit becomes self-adjusting from a bare floor to all kinds andthickness of carpets, for the pan will always lie tightly on the carpet,and let the driving-wheels sink into a firm hold to insure theirrevolving. It will sweep the same when moved either way. I I

Having thus described my improvement in carpet-sweepers, I disclaim allothers now in use, and I also disclaim the fi'iction gear herein used,as it was secured to me in Letters Patent No. 38,165.

I am also aware that a patent was granted to Samuel F. Pratt, January18, 1859, No. 22,671, on carpet-sweepers, in which he used elastic-tiredwheels, with the brush-shaft resting upon the periphery of and betweenthem in such a manner as to derive its rotating power by the friction ofthe same, as they are rolled along the carpet; therefore I disclaim hisinvention and all other kinds of frictiongears except a side-pressurefriction-gear, when the sides of the wheels are held in con- I tact byan elastic pressure or spring; but

' What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,in acarpet-sweeper, substantially the following instrumentali'ties, to wit:1

l. The side-pressure wheels E E E E and F F, in combination with theshafts E. E E E and F F, springs :X X, and brush B, when used in themanner and for the purpose as set forth and specified.

2. The seltadjusting brush-pan G, in com bination with the brush R, andbox A, when operating together as and for the purpose specified.

'3. The ribs Z Z and leather facing U U, in combination with the loosepan G, carrying the brush It, substantially as set forth and specified.I

4:. The pan G, when composed of the heads J J, sides S S, bottom Q Q,and circular pieces T T, in combination, substantially as set forth andspecified.

5. The brush B, leather washers V V, heads J J, having opening L, andcircular pieces T T, in combination, substantially as set forth andspecified.

6. The box A, handle 0, wheels E E E E and F F, pan G, and brush R, incombination, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

- JONAS HINKLEY. Witnesses:

E. J. PATCH, 0. M. HINKLEY.

